I went with this model for a couple of reasons. First, its reported weight of 1.1 kilograms (2.4 pounds) was appealing from a traveling perspective. The 100 percent carbon fiber legs promised a solid and transportable tripod. I don’t care how much you hit the gym,you don’t want a heavy tripod dragging you down when constantly on the move. Overuse injuries can become a risk not to mention the possibility of turning into a sweaty blob when forced to haul a heavy piece equipment across town. I’m not sure how you like conducting interviews, but showing up with giant pit stains is not the most professional look.

The second reason I was drawn to this model was the size. No, not talking about the weight again. Rather I’m talking about the actual length of the tripod, which has a folding length of only 40 centimeters (15.7 inches). At its maximum height it can hit about 142 centimeters (55.91 inches), meaning you’re not sacrificing the ability to put together a proper setup based on its folding length.

I had very little time to put this piece in Hamburg together. I arrived at night, had one full-day of filming, then another morning before having to grab my train out of town. If you’ve seen a Streetfilms production before, you know they feature a ton of b-roll. That means the camera needs to be constantly rolling and that the shooter needs to always be moving in order to get another shot. Keep in mind I also had to squeeze in a few interviews around town.

After all was said and done, I can say without a shred of doubt that it was love at first sight with the Manfrotto Befree Carbon Fiber Tripod. Weight was never an issue as I moved about town and I found it very easy to grab a stable shot without unfolding the legs. Considering sometimes a shot comes without much notice — in this case, cyclists riding by — it was important for me to have the ability to shoot off one leg and still get a stable shot. As you can see in the finished film, this tripod proved to be a lifesaver.

Shooting with the Manfrotto Befree Carbon Fiber Tripod was comfortable and easy. If you’re a professional travel photographer or filmmaker, it’s definitely worth the investment.

About Me

Welcome to Without A Path, the place for all things off the beaten path travel and experiences around the globe. I'm Joe Baur, a travel author (Talking Tico), filmmaker, podcaster, and photographer, sharing my experiences and expert advice on how to travel like a local from Rome to El Salvador complete with recommendations on language learning, books, movies and even podcasts. When I'm not writing here, I'm the host of the Without A Path travel podcast, co-host of Beyond Borders, and editor of trivago Magazine. Have questions? Send an email. Otherwise, happy scrolling. Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // YouTube // Email // Press